| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | Presented by |  | | | Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. Gov. RON DESANTIS and the state Cabinet are meeting this morning for the fourth and final time this year. A key item they’re considering as part of their packed agenda is whether to establish a new state park in Walton County and whether to approve multimillion dollar land conservation deals, POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie reported. The group is also considering whether to give the Department of Environmental Protection power to restructure a state lease on Watson Island in Biscayne Bay. The plan would result in development and potentially involves the site of Miami-area favorite ecotourism attraction Jungle Island. Other items on the to-do list include signing off on public hearings on a slew of tax matters for the Department of Revenue. (The full agenda is here.) During the last Cabinet meeting six months ago, the governor and Cabinet approved a land transfer of state forest to a golf course company without any discussion, the Tampa Bay Times later reported. The deal, which hasn’t received final approval and had been added to the agenda at the last minute, was separate from the plan to create more recreational activities on state parks — such as pickleball courts and golf courses — that drew public and bipartisan backlash. Though state business is on the table today, there will be an undercurrent of the other more political items that DeSantis has on his to-do list. That’s because today’s meeting will also feature JIMMY PATRONIS, who is leaving job as Florida chief financial officer to run for Congress, as well as ASHLEY MOODY, who is among those DeSantis is considering for the soon-to-be-open Senate seat, POLITICO previously reported. The other Cabinet member is Agriculture Commissioner WILTON SIMPSON, who many Tallahassee insiders see as a likely contender for governor. All of the statewide elected leaders are being closely watched for any signals they might be making to voters about how they’re thinking about their next moves. Today’s meeting is happening over teleconference because their usual meeting area is under construction. DeSantis also hasn’t had a press conference to answer questions from reporters for a few weeks, even as speculation has reached a fever pitch about his process and candidates to fill MARCO RUBIO’s Senate seat and the chief financial officer opening. President-elect DONALD TRUMP on Monday played down the possibility that DeSantis might appoint his daughter-in-law, LARA TRUMP, to the job. DeSantis has played coy, though he has continued to do a good amount of public appearances, chimed in on social media to support Trump’s nominees and done several interviews on Fox News. (Tune in to the governor and Cabinet meeting at the Florida Channel.) Also happening this afternoon in Tallahassee is Florida’s 30 electors casting their votes in the Electoral College. They’ll assemble in the state Senate chambers and include big names like Simpson and Patronis as well as PAM BONDI, Trump’s pick to be attorney general. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
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Learn more. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | |  Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie speaks during a news conference at a newly opened fuel depot in Plant, Florida, on Oct. 12, 2024. Looking on are Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, left, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, right. | Chris O'Meara/AP | TODAY — Florida Division of Emergency Management Director KEVIN GUTHRIE is doing a press conference in Gainesville at the UF College of Journalism and Communications. REPEAL OF LAW THEN-GOV. RICK SCOTT SIGNED? — “A proposal that would end Florida’s 10-year-old law offering undocumented immigrants a sizable tuition break at state colleges and universities gained significant traction Monday as Senate President Ben Albritton signaled his support for the idea,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “Albritton’s backing of the legislation — which was filed by firebrand Sen. Randy Fine, soon leaving the chamber to run for Congress — gives the measure a better chance of passing during the upcoming 2025 legislative session. With immigration a key focus of conservatives, Albritton — who voted against the law as a House member in 2014 — indicated he would like to see senators ‘sunset’ or phase out the tuition waiver to ease the blow on current and incoming students.” LEGISLATION ROUNDUP — State Sen. RANDY FINE, the Trump-backed GOP candidate running for Congress FL-05, has filed a bill to prohibit state buildings from flying flags associated with “political viewpoints,” reports Gray Rohrer of USA Today Network-Florida. … Republican state Rep. JOEL RUDMAN, who is running in the special election in FL-01, has filed a bill to alter election laws that would authorize counties to count ballots by hand. … DeSantis has already promised to veto a bill that would have the presidential election decided by the popular vote. … A bill by Democratic state Rep. DAN DALEY would require background checks for the sale and transfer of ammunition. HURRICANE MILTON INSURANCE CLAIMS GO HIGHER — The latest total is $3.4 billion, an increase of $100 million, reported Florida Politics’ Drew Dixon.
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | 12-PAGE REPORT — “Orange County probe says elections chief Gilzean’s overspending broke Florida law,” reports Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel. “Orange County Elections Supervisor Glen Gilzean’s millions of dollars in misspending broke Florida law, according to an investigative report released Monday, and has left his office in danger of overdrawing its checking account by nearly $590,000. The 12-page report by Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond examined Gilzean’s spending from Oct. 1 to Dec. 12. “Diamond has been engaged in a public dispute with Gilzean, a DeSantis appointee. Gilzean, who is exiting the office in January, dismissed the report’s findings in a statement Monday. ‘Comptroller Diamond’s opinion of this office’s finances isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,’ he said.” NOT RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS — “FDOT keeps most records on Disney World monorail confidential after new inspection law,” reports Florida Politics’ Gabrielle Russon. “Florida lawmakers demanded more state oversight last year for Disney World’s monorail as Republicans feuded publicly with the entertainment giant. “However, the state’s transportation agency has been slow to release records and has said little about the theme parks’ iconic system since then. The Florida Department of Transportation recently released a 158-page report on the monorail that was almost completely redacted.” TODAY — “Broward school board to vote on banning religious signage after 'Satan' First Amendment lawsuit,” reports WLRN’s Natalie La Roche Pietri. “The Broward County school board is scheduled to rule on Tuesday what signs are permissible on school campuses following challenges from a contentious advocate who requested to hang ‘Satan Loves the First Amendment’ banners on school grounds.”
| | | | Billions in spending. Critical foreign aid. Immigration reform. The final weeks of 2024 could bring major policy changes. Inside Congress provides daily insights into how Congressional leaders are navigating these high-stakes issues. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | | 
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) speaks during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 20, 2024. | Jose Luis Magana/AP | IN THE RUNNING — Democratic Rep. JARED MOSKOWITZ is among those being considered to lead FEMA under the Trump administration, reported CNN’s Steve Contorno and Kristen Holmes. Moskowitz has frequently mocked Trump during congressional hearings and called for Palm Beach County to increase property taxes at Mar-a-Lago. But he also has been one of the most vocal Democrats in speaking out against the Secret Service’s security lapses during the assassination attempts against Trump and in decrying FEMA’s inefficiencies. He specifically called for the agency head to report directly to the White House rather than fall under the Department of Homeland Security. Moskowitz was the first Democrat to join the Department of Government Efficiency Caucus, which will discuss cost-cutting measures in the federal government, and is close to incoming chief of staff SUSIE WILES. Plus, he already worked for a Republican before — when DeSantis tapped him to lead Florida’s emergency management division in the first term. POLITICO’s Mia McCarthy asked Moskowitz about it on Dec. 10. Initially, he wouldn’t engage with questions about whether he would consider going to FEMA. Then he came back and said he only responded that way initially because FEMA administrator is supposed to be a nonpartisan job. "A Democrat shouldn't be ruled out for that job; it's a nonpartisan job,” he said. PLANNING AHEAD — Patronis said that he’d like to join the DOGE Caucus if he gets elected to Congress, reports Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles.
| | | | A message from Instagram:   | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | IN THE RACE — Democratic state Rep. ANNA ESKAMANI is running for mayor of Orlando, she announced Monday. Per Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel: “The race isn’t until 2027, and it could be the first without an incumbent in nearly 25 years. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who became mayor in 2003 and sailed to an easy reelection last year, announced at the time that would be his final campaign … “Orlando has a strong-mayor form of government, which means the mayor serves as the city’s chief executive. The mayor also sits on numerous high-profile boards that set policy on a host of regional matters such as at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Central Florida Expressway Agency, Orlando Utilities Commission as well as boards overseeing Lynx and SunRail.” NEXT MOVE? — Florida House Minority Leader FENTRICE DRISKELL is considering running for state Senate in the district that state Sen. DARRYL ROUSON will be vacating after 2026, reports Florida Politics’ Janelle Irwin Taylor. Florida Politics reports: “If she ran, Driskell would challenge a member of her own caucus, state Rep. Michele Rayner, who has already filed to run for Senate District 16.” COUNTY DEMS — “Broward Democrats reelect party chair amid questions over eligibility of some voters,” reports Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Broward County Democrats reelected Rick Hoye as party chair, hoping his plans to invigorate the county party’s infrastructure improve its performance in the 2026 gubernatorial and 2028 presidential elections. Hoye won a second, four-year term with 59 percent of the 275 votes cast.” — Florida Politics has a callout for submissions for its “Central Florida’s Most Powerful Politicians” list.
| | | | Write your own chapter in the new Washington. From the Lame Duck Congress Series to New Administration insights, POLITICO Pro delivers intelligence across 22+ policy areas to help you anticipate and navigate change. Discover how a Pro subscription empowers you. Learn more today. | | | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | STATE OF PLAY — Federal government funding runs out Friday, and Congress members haven't seen a copy of the continuing spending resolution that would fund the government through mid-March and prevent a partial government shutdown. ‘ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY’ — “Six Florida Democrats sign on to letter calling on Biden to ratify the ERA,” reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. “Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Kathy Castor, Maxwell Frost, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Darren Soto, and Frederica Wilson are the Florida Democratic members of Congress who signed the letter [to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment]. A total of 122 House Democrats put their name on the letter sent to Biden.”’ — “U.S. Rep. Steube has victory lap for disaster relief law at South County Tiger Bay,” reports Earle Kimel of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — Best places to see manatees this winter, according to Treasure Coast Newspapers. — Driverless robotaxis are coming to Miami, reports the Miami Herald. Is your birthday missing today or coming up? Send it over: Kleonard@politico.com.
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